Equity/Inclusion Services
The Culture C.O-.O.P promotes systemic change, inclusion, equity, cultural competency, diversity, literacy, and quality education for all.
We provide a paradigm for transforming individuals’ communities, systems, and beyond, as well as culturally relevant and responsive services. These include equity/inclusion seminars, keynotes, customized presentations, author visits, and cultural experiences and events on a variety of topics for educators, youth, families, and community/business and organizations. You can request a particular service that fits your needs for a specific event or explore a more comprehensive approach that increases the chances of systemic change and impacts overall success. We especially recommend the latter approach. Below is a summary of our most requested services.
Equity/Inclusion Services
The Culture CO-OP customizes services to meet your needs. Our work is based on extensive research, best practices, and over 35 years of field experience working directly with diverse populations. We offer both organizational services, and our recommended comprehensive approach which truly addresses issues at a deeper level. The latter allows us to assist you in developing strategic visioning, policies, plans, interventions, and impacts that truly make a difference with your targeted populations. Hence we encourage your participation in the paradigm for transforming individuals, communities, systems, and beyond which is holistic in its scope and intentions. However, we also understand that you may have immediate needs that you would like to address. We encourage you to feel free to call or email us at info@CultureCo-Op.com or call us at (530) 792-1334 for more information.
General Inclusion/Equity Services
The Culture C.O.-O.P. serves youth, adults, organizations, and communities with a variety of cultural backgrounds. Whether you are requesting our ongoing equity series or asking for a specific need such as a workshop, educational forum, keynote, cultural event, or general consultation, we are here to collaborate with you and assist you in your efforts. Our services are designed to increase the cultural competency of people and to give them a basic foundation and understanding of what has created inequity in our living. We do our work with extreme consideration, love, and commitment. Contact us for more information.
The Culture C.O.-O.P. has created a paradigm for transforming individuals, communities, systems, and beyond to encourage a variety of entities to envision strategies for interventions and impact from a holistic and systemic perspective. This paradigm along with the Cost of Darkness documentary and seven other components can be done in parts or as a process encouraging systemic change. We recommend this paradigm for those who are serious about systemic change. Click the button to the left for more information.
Paradigm for Transforming Individuals, Communities, Systems, and Beyond
This presentation focuses on laying a foundation for becoming more culturally competent and understanding the importance of self-awareness of historical factors which have created gaps in our institutions. It helps people to examine their biases and increases knowledge in the area of working and interacting with cultural differences. Participants are encouraged to do exercises provided in take-home packets that explore individual characteristics and traits more in-depth. Equity 101 is a prerequisite for all of the more advanced services.
It explores the historical, systemic, and structural policies and practices that have created the social gaps present in our society today. This service provides participants with a backdrop to understanding critical dynamics that affect our ability to serve vulnerable populations. It also gives examples of practices, strategies, and policies necessary to create healthy organizations that effectively serve their populations.
Equity 101
As a sequel, this presentation goes deeper than Equity 101, participants are encouraged to explore in more detail historical concepts such as supremacy ideology, eugenics, caste, inequity, and the role these constructs play in what we are seeing in our society today. We focus on building trust at deeper levels so that we can facilitate conversations that are critical to transforming people, organizations, and institutions overall. Using a variety of approaches, participants are encouraged to create brave spaces so that any changes needed can be addressed. Equity 102 explores how systems are created which hinder groups from being successful in their lives. Equity 101 is required before this presentation.
Equity 102
Advanced in-services/gatherings are only for participants who have participated in Equity 101 and Equity 102 workshops. These seminars are more in-depth, explore historical policies, practices, structures, and supremacy ideology, which are foundational to the challenges which exist today. Advanced workshops build on prior services to take participants on a journey, which ultimately inspires change at the individual, group, and organizational levels. Participants and organizations are given mini assignments and personalized/organizational options to increase their impact in their endeavors. We then assist them in developing a strategic map or vision for building foundation for equity and strategic intervention that benefit their organization. The goal is to create environments where all participants can survive and thrive. Contact us for more information.
Advanced Equity Topics
Creative Work Which Addresses Inequity and Isms
The Culture C.O.-O.P. is committed to partnering with creative organizations and using the arts to impact people in communities. We utilize a variety of creative tools such as creative writing, theatrical works, storytelling, music, and other cultural events which engage people and inspire change. Click here for an example of one of our plays. Our organization targets youth, adults, and the larger community, encouraging creative approaches to address difficult issues. We believe the arts, in combination with a comprehensive approach, can make a world of difference in the area of equity. In addition, we understand the role that the arts can have in improving organizational approaches and impact.
Our Services
Project Based Learning for Community Impact
Individuals or any organization can request to work with the Culture C.O.-O.P. on a current project that impacts the community in a positive way around issues of inequity, poverty, oppression, and systemic change. Participants, as a result of working on a Culture C.O.-O.P. effort, will have the opportunity to gain skills which increase their cultural understanding of others and their competency when working with diversity in general. All potential partners must be approved by the Director.
Positive Youth/Adult Development
Workshops
These workshops are designed to impact youth and adults in powerful ways. They afford people the opportunity to explore personal factors as well as institutional constructs which hinder success and growth. Presentations and experiences are offered in a variety of areas with the goal of increasing cultural competency, healthier spaces, and life skills that help us navigate our living.
Life Skills Development
Workshop
Anyone can request our series for life skills development, including our program S.O.A.R.. Our goal is to lay foundations for people to be able to reach their goals, overcome adversity, and navigate and begin to change inequitable environments. We utilize a variety of tools such as workshops, youth/adult development experiences, presentations, community service, mentorship, and other approaches which increase personal efficiency. Contact us more about our life skills development efforts.
Team Building
Workshop
The Culture C.O.-O.P. facilitates team-building workshops for organizations that are trying to build cooperation and efficiency among staff members. These workshops are designed to increase trust and encourage conflict resolution among co-workers. Attendees participate in a variety of exercises and vignettes that address common issues which often hinder the effectiveness of reaching organizational goals. This full-day workshop is designed to be fun and interactive.
Parent Involvement
Seminars
This innovative and practical seminar discusses how to increase parent involvement in schools and community organizations. Participants are exposed to common and successful practices that have increased parent involvement in select programs all over the country. We have found that parents truly do care and, when approached in the right way, will support identified goals within a variety of organizational settings.
Motivational Seminars
Seminars
This seminar is perfect for individuals and organizations experiencing “burnout” and apathy about their work. Participants are given the opportunity to reconnect with what is important to them and their organization. Exercises that stimulate and re-energize participants are conducted to illustrate how to bring perspective and balance into each day. Past participants in this workshop often report feeling re-committed to individual and organizational objectives.
The Culture C.O.-O.P. also provides customized services for organizations that have specific needs they would like to address. Please feel free to call us at (530) 792-1334 and ask us about any service request you may have.
Customized Services
Keynotes
Sandy Holman has served as a keynote and featured speaker at numerous organizations, both nationwide and internationally. She has spoken on a variety of topics and has been an honored guest at conferences, literary events, community gatherings, and business functions. Sandy also does inspirational keynotes which inspire people to operate at their highest levels. As an award-winning author specializing in multicultural literature, Sandy has influenced thousands with her gentle approaches to dealing with difficult issues that affect our youth and the adults who serve them. She is known for her optimistic and proactive approach toward serving others and has won numerous awards for her work around equity and inclusion. Sandy works effectively with both youth and adults. She tirelessly advocates for the support of marginalized communities, inclusive environments in major institutions, and for systemic change designed to create efficacy in a variety of spaces. Participants rate her presentations as outstanding!
To request Sandy's services as a keynote speaker or to inquire about other services, please email us at info@cultureco-op.com or call us at (530) 792-1334.
Special Events
Author Days
The Culture C.O.-O.P. offers exciting presentations to schools, bookstores, community organizations, businesses, and corporations. Participants interact with Sandy Holman and engage in a fun-filled, interactive experience that celebrates living a full life and honoring all people. These events also promote respect for people, elders, education, and reading.
Author visits are one of our most popular services; thousands of participants have already responded enthusiastically to Sandy's boundless positive energy. Her visits inspire people, give them hope, and encourage an understanding of our diverse world. These author visits are appropriate for adults and children alike. Be prepared for a memorable event!
Youth/Adult Events
The Culture C.O.-O.P. assists organizations in planning special events for their organization and/or the community. We offer advice and resources to help you ensure the success of your event. We pay attention to detail and specialize in working with our clients to make sure they incorporate inclusion into their events.
Author Signings
The Culture C.O.-O.P. conducts author signings with author Sandy Lynne Holman. Individuals and organizations can request to have Sandy come to their organizations so that staff and members of the community can purchase her books and get a personalized autograph. Sandy also speaks about what is involved in getting your work published and shares what inspires her to do the work she does. Author Signings are subject to availability and fees for appearance.
Facilitation
This is a service offered for managing forums on sensitive topics (such as conflict resolution or racism, etc.). The Culture C.O.-O.P. will assist your organization by taking the lead in facilitating the forum. We create an honest and respectful environment in which people can safely share their feelings and concerns about critical topics that are affecting our communities and country. With our assistance, these gatherings allow participants to move forward in proactive and constructive ways, and to collaborate on ways to address issues in their communities.
We All Have A Heritage Presentation
This service is a high-energy presentation designed to complement the “We All Have A Heritage: Many Cultures, One World" Campaign, a national project focused on bringing attention to the critical importance of diversity/equity, cultural competency, literacy, and a quality education for all. This presentation is appropriate for all age groups, and engages both youth and adults in a culturally relevant and responsive way. It also generates excitement and a commitment toward learning and school achievement. This event is designed to assist you in taking the first steps in honoring inclusion and towards creating a school environment where all students succeed.
Staff Retreats
The Culture C.O.-O.P. facilitates retreats for staff that honor the true meaning of the word "retreat." These events are designed to give organizations an opportunity to honor and give something back to their staff. Participants have the opportunity to feel pampered, appreciated, and reenergized about the work that they do. The day is fun, productive, and inspiring. Although organizations requesting staff retreats may request that some organizational planning occur, we encourage clients to keep this to a minimum. Many have found that giving their staff a true retreat results in many positive outcomes for their organization.
Bold, Black, and Beautiful Presentations
The Culture CO-OP provides presentations that specifically address anti-blackness and the legacy of systemic racism and inequity. These presentations are designed to give people a strong foundation into the global constructs that created the institutional disparities that we still see today. Understanding the impact of enslavement, caste, eugenics, and diminishing of a person’s being because they have black or dark skin is critical in order to change what we are seeing in our country and the world. These dynamics also adversely affect almost every other cultural group in some way, shape, or form.
